16-inch vs 14-inch dev laptop: which is better?
I'm thinking about getting a MacBook Pro, but I keep hearing the 16-inch has pretty bad portability, so I'm torn. From the perspective of someone who's constantly moving between cafes and meeting rooms, I'm wondering if the 14-inch is better.
5 answers
If you're going back and forth between cafes and meeting rooms, it's definitely a 14. Just thinking about carrying a 16 around makes my shoulder feel like it'll pop out lol
Recommend the 14. Honestly, arguing about productivity based on laptop screen size is a bit outdated—these days, you just hook up an external monitor and you're set. When you get home or to the office, connect to a monitor right away; while on the move, carrying the 14 around lightly is good for your mental health. If you buy a 16 and it's so heavy you don't carry it, it just becomes a desktop.
Got a source? Where did you see the comment that the '16 isn't very portable?
I'm someone who switched from a 16 to a 14. At first I worried I wouldn't get used to the smaller screen, but it only takes about a week to adjust. If anything, carrying it in a bag is way less stressful, so I'm happy with it. Think of portability as proportional to how often you carry it around. If you're carrying it around two or three times a day, the 16 is a total no-go. The bulk is more of a problem than the weight. The 16 barely fits in a regular backpack's laptop compartment.
Well, I'm not so sure about that. The weight difference between the 14 and 16 is only about 500g—does that really feel like that much? I've rarely felt uncomfortable using the 16. If anything, the bigger screen is much better for productivity. I think it depends on how often you're moving around. If it's once or twice a day, the 16 is totally manageable.